Sources: Joycelyn Burdett, 785-532-1322, jburdett@1xbet online games login edu;
Bronwyn Fees, 785-532-1476, fees@1xbet online games login edu;
and Marilyn Kaff, 785-532-5901, mkaff@1xbet online games login edu
Photo available. Download at http://www.1xbet online games login edu/media/newsreleases/jun11/627autismvest.jpg. Cutline: K-State 1xbet online games login and faculty with the autism vests they designed and mass-produced.
News release prepared by: Kayela Richard, 785-532-2535, media@1xbet online games login edu

Monday, June 27, 2011

A COMFORTING DESIGN: K-STATE 1xbet online games login DESIGN, PRODUCE VESTS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

MANHATTAN -- It's a project in which Kansas State University apparel design 1xbet online games login have a vested interest.

1xbet online games login in K-State's Apparel Production II class designed and produced special vests for children with autism or sensory integration disorders. Autism vests, which have small weights strategically placed so they can be felt on different points of the body, provide a calming effect to children so they can be focus on a particular task, according to Bronwyn Fees, associate professor of family studies and human services.

A child with autism or a sensory integration disorder has difficulty with or responding to sensory stimulation from multiple sources, such as sights, sounds and movement.

&1xbet online games login ;A teacher in the classroom may use the garment as part of a therapeutic intervention for that child, particularly if he or she needs the child to be attentive to other things, such as at a group time,&1xbet online games login ; Fees said.

A group of local teachers with inclusive preschool programs did not have enough weighted 1xbet online games login , so Fees worked with several of them to find out their requirements.

Joycelyn Burdett, assistant professor of apparel textiles and interior design and instructor of the Apparel Production II class, used the vest production as a service project and a way to motivate 1xbet online games login to create a better design and a high quality product.

&1xbet online games login ;I think it put a context to the product for the students,&1xbet online games login ; Burdett said. &1xbet online games login ;They had to think about the end user and all of the developmental characteristics of the kids. It became a personal thing for some of the students. They were totally enthused and passionate about being involved.&1xbet online games login ;

The vests made by the 1xbet online games login have several pockets for weights and a tight fit to help the child be calm and focused. The 1xbet online games login used recycled or donated fabric to make the vests, selecting materials that would be comfortable to wear and easy to maintain. They also added an extra element or two, such as buttons so the child can practice fine motor skills. The 1xbet online games login were responsible for quality control and coming up with instructions for the vest's use and its technical specifications.

Fees also collaborated with Marilyn Kaff, associate professor of special education counseling and student affairs at K-State, to distribute the 1xbet online games login internationally. Kaff works with a group that has a program for children with autism in Tanzania and will make her fourth trip to the country soon to distribute the 1xbet online games login .

&1xbet online games login ;We're going to bring the vests and maybe take a pattern along,&1xbet online games login ; Kaff said. &1xbet online games login ;That way if they want to make more, they will be able to do that with local materials. I think it's a neat international and multidisciplinary project. I'm impressed with the wide variety of designs the students created.&1xbet online games login ;

Fees, Burdett and Kaff hope to create more multidisciplinary service projects in the future.

&1xbet online games login ;There are so many needs that we can incorporate into the classroom as service learning opportunities,&1xbet online games login ; Burdett said. &1xbet online games login ;Being able to collaborate with teachers and student designers was a real synergistic opportunity.&1xbet online games login ;